“A lot has changed since you left,” advised Bo. “There is much discontent between the nobles, between the priests, between the nobles and priests. The scholars and tijoxels are rallying behind K’an II, and the army stands fast behind him, but the arms of treachery reach far into our land. There is talk of war, of social upheaval, of changes we will not survive. And you have killed the Ahau Can Mai.”
“I don’t understand, Bo.”
“The image you carved on ya’ax-chich and gave to Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’, who in turn gave it to K’an II, he wears it around his neck. It is always there and it provokes fear among some of the nobles and priests. The artisans of Ox Witz Ha sing about how the very air became green as Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ dove into the Ch’ajch’oj Tz’ono’ot. They sing about the story told by Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’, of what will happen on the Tepeyac, where nothing grows, that Ix Na Li Kawa will lead one of our people there to gather lool388 growing there, so willed by Ix Na Li Kawa. Our people have no Ix Na Li Kawa. Our people have many gods and Itzamná is Chief among the gods. Itzamná has no nah’,” finished Bo, shaking his head.
“You are T’oit’ik-jolom of Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha, Fuck. You will tell my al-ch’utin-nan everything.” Choj’s face carried no expression, definitely no expression of pleading. But his eyes told me that he was ordering me to do what he and Bo thought necessary.
“Fok!” I whispered. I looked at them. “Maybe, I will tell you Choj, and you Bo. Then you can decide if you or I should tell Ajawinel K’an II a tale even you, my achalals, will fail to believe.” They looked at me then nodded.
“We will believe,” said Choj, in a reassuring tone.
“As soon as you are well, K’an II will meet with you. Until then, he orders that you do not speak of Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ or Ix Na Li Kawa. You speak only of your mission to kill Mahanamtz. There are many who want Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ dead,” said Bo. “And there are many who fear the heresy of Ix Na Li Kawa. There are more, however, who want Mahanamtz dead.”
“They want Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ Dead?”
“And you as well,” finished Bo, grinning.
“Take me to him.” They hesitated. “You are my achalals. He is now my al-ch’utin-nan. Take me to him.”
“I would not push that al-ch’utin-nan bit too far,” cautioned Bo.
“Have you ever seen Lady Batz’ Ek’ angry?” asked Choj, a smirk on his face. “Even K’an II avoids her when she is angry.”
“Why would she be angry about me going to K’an II?” I asked, bewildered.
“Lady Batz’ Ek’ orders that you must rest.”
“I must speak with K’an II.”
“I don’t know; however, she has taken a liking to you, it seems,” said Choj, seriously, but somewhere there was a grin. “It’s not often that she publicly takes a Warrior into her quarters and allow him to spend the night.” Bo rolled his eyes. “You can never be sure with her, however. She has ordered that you are not to leave your mat until she orders it. I would say that is that.” Choj shrugged his shoulders as if all had been said.
“She wants you to await her here, on this mat,” grinned Bo.
“Well, orders or no orders, I will see the Ajawinel. Will you help me or do I have to drag myself to him?”
“Will you go to K’an II dressed as a slave?” smiled Bo. “You wear no loincloth, just a piece of cloth barely wrapped around you. Lady Batz’ Ek’ had told the priests to dress you in one, but with all the stuffing the physicians were doing, it wasn’t a good idea.”
“Fok you, Bo. And you too Choj.”
They shook their heads, laughing. “I don’t see a loincloth around. Should I send for one?” asked Bo.
“Later. I need to speak with the Ajawinel now. I will go as I am.” They both sighed loudly then reached down and pulled me up. I placed my arms around their shoulders and I tried to walk. It was difficult. They both looked at me.
“See what I told you, my Achalal,” warned Choj. “You are not yet healed. K’an II is in a room in the courtyard. There are steps to go down.”
“Take me,” I insisted, and they dragged me out of Lady Batz’ Ek’s room onto the ledge leading to the steps. My eyes burned and I slammed them shut. They indicated to two Nim-q’ij Guards on duty and the four of them carried me down to the courtyard and to the room. Choj and Bo entered firstly, then the four of them placed me against a wall. The guards left and Choj and Bo held me as I leaned backward.
The Ajawinel and his family sat, playing a game of Bul. I wore no loincloth, just the skimpy wrap around that barely covered Tóolok and, certainly not my u-ye’el-toons. I had no idea that Lady Batz’ Ek’, K’an II’s wife the Chichu’ Ajawinel, and the four Nim-q’ij Alixels all would be there. They looked at me, ignored my almost complete nakedness as they would a naked slave, and ignored my spotted skin. Only Lady Batz’ Ek” face glowered.
“I gave orders that he was not to be moved,” stormed Lady Batz’ Ek’, standing.
“He insisted, My Lady,” Choj and Bo replied in unison, letting me go. I was immediately dizzy and slid down to the floor. They did not help me, as if saying, We told you.
Choj and Bo bowed. “Excuse us,” said Choj. “We need to return to our studies.”
“Oh no, you don’t!” commanded Lady Batz’ Ek. “Stay with him. Pick him up and sit him properly against the wall.” They picked me up and dragged me against the wall where they sat me up then joined me, one of them sitting on either side of me.
K’an II stood, his face showing a bit of bewilderment. “Why are you not resting on your mat? Ah-k’inob Coatl says that it will be a full uinal before you are well enough to, todo anything.”
“I have no time left, Ajawinel. My journey has taken me too long, Mahanamtz was always moving just ahead of me while my Warriors and I went through danger after danger. I have to rescue Molly before it’s too late.”
“Molly?” queried K’an II.
I closed my eyes. I had to stop saying things I shouldn’t.
“He tires,” commented Lady Batz’ Ek, concern marking her face. “He is not ready.”
I looked at Lady Batz’ Ek. “I am a Warrior of Ox Witz Ha. A T’oit’ik-jolom of Ajawinel K’an II, your Nim-q’ij Paal. I am ready, My Lady.”
She glanced at me, shaking her head. “You are too weak to even hold a to’bal-rib, much less a maquahuitl, which I know is your weapon of choice. You are too weak to fight.”
“Then my Warriors will help me hold up my to’bal-rib and my maquahuitl, My lady. And yes, the maquahuitl is my weapon of choice. And yes, My Lady. I will fight.”
“And who is Molly?” repeated Lord K’an II.
“I am sorry, Ajawinel. Molly is Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’.”
“Molly?” He clasped his hands behind his back, walking up and down. The Lady Batz’ Ek stood silent and motionless. The Chichu’ Ajawinel and the four Nim-q’ij Alixels sat immobile, just looking at me. I could hear Choj’s and Bo’s breathing beside me. “So, at last I have the privilege of knowing her name. That is a strange name. But then you did say that she came from a foreign land.” He looked at me, no hostility, just awareness, in his eyes. “I suppose I will call that distant land, Ajawibal Xma’ K’aaba’”.389 He held the Raax Ch’ayom Puag that hung around his neck. “Is this glyph carved on ya’ax-chich also from Ajawibal Xma’ K’aaba’, or is it from Pusilhá?” He held the machete that hung at his side. “Is this strange and strong weapon from Ajawibal Xma’ K’aaba’, or is it also from Pusilhá?” I hung my head. “A Warrior does not hang his head, Fuck. He faces what confronts him.” I lifted my head with much effort, my head spinning and nausea building. Indeed, I was still sick. “Choj and Bo!”
“Al-ch’utin-nan,” they answered together, disquietude written on their faces.
K’an II shook his head with apprehension. “He is not well enough. Take him back to his room. See that he has everything he n
eeds, everything he wants. Send for Ah-k’inob Coatl. Tell him he is not to leave Fuck’s side until he is absolutely well. When Fuck is willing to tell me everything, bring him back to me. Then, we will discuss the Warriors he needs to attack Mahanamtz and rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. That will always be her name in Ox Witz Ha.”
“Molly,” I said, as Choj and Bo pulled me up. My head spun and nausea overwhelmed me. I started to vomit and just before I lapsed into blackness I remembered where I had heard the name ‘Coatl’ before. He was the Nabe Kaloonte’ of the Ajaw of Tulam Tzu and he had plunged his long bate’ through the chest of my friend Kish in the battle at Chay Abaj. He had also been sent to Xibalba. My only regret was that it was not I who had opened his skull with my maquahuitl. My world became black, once again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
THE T’OIT’IK-
JOLOM CRIES.
K’iin 27 - The Uinal of Mol
Saturday, May 26, 1973
The heavy scent of incense was almost overpowering as I lifted my eyelids. A lamp burned in the corner of the room and the early signs of daylight were surrounding me. Ah-k’inob Coatl was sitting beside me, asleep. Yochi sat against a wall, looking at me. He smiled and crawled over to me, picked up one of the jugs that stood near Coatl and brought it to my lips, holding up my head.
“Drink,” he said. “The Ah-k’inob says that you must drink as much as you can, as often as you can.” I took in a mouthful, anticipating a foul taste, but even though there was bitterness, the drink was savored with honey. “Not bad,” smiled Yochi. “But it’s not iztāc-octli.” He chuckled. “It is ko’yem with strong medicines.”
“Yes! It is a pity, Yochi, that it’s not iztāc-octli.” I looked around.
“What do you need?”
“Is there a pot? I need to shit.”
“There is. The medicines in the drink will do that to you.”
“So quickly.”
“Yes! The quicker we get all the residual ch’u’j-k’aas out of you the better.” He helped me to stand and although my weakness was still very evident, I was able to walk a little better. Yochi took me over to the pot, removed the lid, and set me down. I felt my head spinning and I swayed a little. He kneeled beside me, holding me upright as I used the pot. My shit smelled like a rotting animal, but there was no expression of disgust on Yochi’s face, just concern. When I was finished, he cleaned me and led me back to my mat. I sat, but kept swaying.
“I don’t want to lie down,” I insisted, weakly. Yochi sat beside me, holding me up. He looked at me and smiled. I looked at him and then I was crying. He said nothing, just kept me upright. I didn’t know why I was crying. I suppose I was overwhelmed by everything that had happened from the time Mahanamtz took Molly from me, and that I had not rescued her as yet. I felt Yochi arms tighten about me a little, offering whatever strength he could give me. Then I knew why I was crying. When I had closed Bas’s eyes on the mountaintop, he and I had bathed in his blood. I thought I would never have the friendship and love that he and I had shared, ever again. But as Yochi held me and looked at me, I saw the love that he and my Warriors had for me. They would fight and die for me and it was not only because of the Warrior’s Code, it was also because they loved me as a brother and a friend. “Fuck!” I said softly.
“It’s okay, Fuck,” consoled Yochi. “It’s just the medicine.”
“I shook my head. It’s more than that, Yochi.”
“Then let me say that it is only the greatest of T’oit’ik-joloms that cries for it is only the greatest of T’oit’ik-joloms who knows that there is no glory without life on U Wach Ulew. Glory without life is without meaning.” I was shocked and confused at Yochi’s words for I knew that the Warrior embraced the thought of Glory in Death. He saw my perplexity and continued. “While you were lying here, I have been talking with Choj and Bo. They know I am from Yax Mutul, yet they do not hesitate to talk to me, treat me as one of their own. They have been telling me of the new thoughts that are growing in Ox Witz Ha. Choj says that when necessary we must always fight, but we must not conclude that fighting is always necessary. Bo has said that we must no longer shed blood into the mouth of Tohil,390 not our blood in rituals, not the blood of our enemies in sacrifices. Tohil tells us that shedding our blood this way is like the suckling of an infant by its mother. The Ajawinel says that if Tohil and the gods need to drink blood to survive, then they must get blood themselves. Bo said that the Ajawinel also believes that too much of our people’s blood has covered U Wach Ulew.” He tightened his arms about me again. “Those ideas are very different.” He relaxed his hold a little. “Can you remain upright?” I nodded. “I will get you more drink.”
“Already? I don’t want to shit again.”
“Yes, and you will. The Ah-k’inob says that you must drink continuously. So, you’ll shit again.”
“Does that mean I’ll be shitting, all the time?”
Yochi laughed out loudly. Coatl shifted a little in his sleep, still upright. “Why are you worrying about shitting? I’m the one cleaning your xut’. Cleaning your shit.”
I looked at him as he handed me the mug, and I couldn’t help grinning at his remark. “Thank you, Yochi.” I paused a moment. “Do you believe what Choj and Bo told you? It goes against the beliefs of our people.”
“Our people believe what the Ahau Can Mai and his priests tell them. They fear them. We killed the Ahau Can Mai of Ox Witz Ha at Naj Tunich, in the Ch’ajch’oj Jul and Cum Hau did not save him. Perhaps it’s time for other beliefs.”
I stared at Yochi and didn’t know what to say, so I said, “I’ll never forget what you have … you and all my Warriors have done for me.”
“I won’t let you.” He smiled, but looked troubled. “Now, drink up.” He handed me the mug then a roguish look, unusual for Yochi, crossed his face. He winked at me then suddenly reached out and pushed over the sleeping Coatl, who jumped up, terror marking him. Yochi stood up, looking down at him, Yochi’s face fierce.
Although unaware that only Yochi and I were in the room, Coatl immediately began expressing regret. “I did not mean to sleep. I had been working on the T’oit’ik-jolom all night, taking in the foul incantations that plagued him. They made me weak.”
I looked at Yochi’s fierce face and almost choked, the drink spouting out my mouth and all over Coatl. Yochi’s fierce face disappeared and he was on the floor rolling with laughter.
Coatl’s terrorized face turned to anger. He glared at me, but said nothing. He calmed himself, took my mug and refilled it. He handed it back to me, a smug look on his face. I drank the sweet and bitter liquid and, even more quickly than before, the cramps in my stomach started. “Yochi,” I blurted out. “To the pot.” Coatl smiled, wrathfully, probably thinking I’m having the last laugh.
Yochi got up off the floor and, still chuckling, helped me up. I barely made the pot. And that’s how it was for the rest of the day. Sometimes it was Yochi, other times it was Choj or Bo helping me to and from the pot. Coatl continued his chanting, at times with his priests and sometimes alone, always burning pots of incense. Chalchiuitl stood aside, not involved at that time. As the day wore on, I felt my weakness increase as I continued the purging and the shitninz. Yet, the weakness I felt was different from what I felt previously and I knew I was on my way to recovery.
Kinich had already left U Wach Ulew when Yochi brought me some food. “Eat. You must eat now. You do not need to gulp anymore of your favorite drink.”
“Favorite drink?” I grimaced. “Thank you, Yochi. What is it?”
“Smoked ch’o’, ikox391 and aqaj392 larvae.”
Smoked ch’o’, ikox, and aqaj larvae. It was the same food I was given on the sani-bay when Molly and I were captives of Ajawinel K’an II, making our way for the first time to Ox Witz Ha. That seemed so long ago. I ate hungrily.
Yochi took my empty plate. “Now, go to sleep. We’ll see how you feel when Kinich Ahau returns from the Underwo
rld.”
“My men. My Warriors. I have not seen them.”
“They are being Warriors. They prepare for battle, they eat and drink, and they chakuj tutuchci.” Yochi smiled. “All is well. Lady Batz’ Ek ordered that you were not to be disturbed. This time she means it.”
I sighed more loudly than I wanted. “Will you stay here?”
“Do you want me to? Do you expect me to always be at your side, protecting you, cleaning your achaq, wiping your xut’? Don’t you think I want to do the things of a Warrior, especially, chakuj tutuchci?” he responded, absolutely serious.
I stared at him, puzzled and taken aback by his loud outburst.
“It’s a joke, Chiac.” He laughed very loudly. “Yes, at times, even I can make a joke. Unfortunately, it is more rare than common. That is Yochi. Me.” He looked almost somber, at that point, then he continued. “Oh yes. I will be here. I want to; however, the good Lady also did order me to be here.” He grinned. “I have been told it’s not good to see Lady Batz’ Ek angry.” He looked around mischievously. “I think she wants you strong for when she comes to your mat.”
“Yochi, my friend. I …”
“Say nothing,” he grinned. “I do not want to lose my heart.”
I smiled, thinking about Lady Batz’ Ek’s reputation as I lay down on my mat and closed my eyes. I vaguely remembered Yochi placing a piece of tapestry over me, hearing the incantations of Coatl and his priests, and smelling the sweet scent of the Sacred Pom as it burned in the incense burners, then I sank into darkness as had become my recent custom.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHIAC TELLS K’AN II HIS TALE
K’iin 28 - The Uinal of Mol
Sunday, May 27, 1973
It was about mid-morning when Yochi kicked me into wakefulness and handed me a plate and a mug. “Páak’am393 and kua. The thick drink is k’ah.”394
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